Baby formula shortage: Maryland health officials share safe alternatives brands

WASHINGTON (7News) — Thebaby formula shortage is making parents desperate and the Maryland Dept. of Health is warning against using homemade recipes.

"Remember, do not use homemade infant formulas if your usual brand isn't available. They often lack critical nutrients that babies need. Instead, try a different brand," the health department tweeted Monday morning.

So what should parents do?

If you normally buyGerber Good Start Gentle,Similac Advance orEnfamil Infant Formula, health officials say these are some good alternatives:

• Earth’s Best Organic
• Gerber Good Start Gentle Supreme
• Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease
• Gerber Good Start SoothePro
• Similac Sensitive
• Enfamil AR
• Enfamil NeuroPro Sensitive
• Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive
• Similac Pro-Sensitive
• `Similac for Spit-Up
• Always My Baby Advantage
• Always My Baby Gentle
• CVS Advantage Infant Formula with Iron
• CVS Health Complete Comfort
• Mama Bear Advantage Infant Formula with Iron
• Mama Bear Sensitivity
• Member’s Mark Advantage Infant Formula with Iron
• Member’s Mark Sensitivity
• Kirkland Signature ProCare
• Little Journey Advantage Baby Formula
• Little Journey Sensitivity

SEE ALSO | Abbott restarts baby formula plant linked to contamination

If you normally buy soy-based formula, your infantcan use these:

• Gerber Good Start Gentle Soy
• Similac Soy Isomil Enfamil Prosobee
• Soy Enfamil Prosobee
• Simply Plant-Based
• Always My Baby Soy
• Parent’s Choice Soy Infant Formula with Iron
• Up & Up Soy Infant Formula with Iron
• Well Beginnings Soy

The health department also pointed out these reminders:

• Talk with your child’s health care provider if you are not sure about what is safe for your baby
• Do NOT: Water down formula
• Do NOT: Try to make formula at home
• Do NOT: Use toddler formula for younger babies
• Some babies can’t take standard or “regular'' formula. Specialty formula is a specifically recommended product to manage or treat medical conditions
• Purchase no more than a 10 to 14-day supply so that product is available for all infants
• If feeding a baby with human milk from a source other than the baby's mother, you should only use milk from a source that has screened its milk donors and taken other precautions to ensure the safety of the milk.
  

SEE ALSO | Despite Biden administration's efforts, parents still struggle to find baby formula

The Biden Administration said they are working with local and federal partners to help parents during the shortage. The Food and Drug Administration announced last week that 1.3 million cans of Gerber baby formula will come from across the southern border — enough supply to make 33 million baby bottles.

For more information, go here.